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Heidi Penttila Wu

Obituary

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at the Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna. A reception will follow. Her ashes will remain in China with her husband.

Mrs. Penttila Wu was born Dec. 8, 1960, in Denver. Her father worked as a geologist and she grew up traveling throughout the world and lived in many places such as Alaska, California, Connecticut and London. She graduated in 1979 from the American Community Schools in London. After graduation, she stayed in England for many years, where she raised her family and hosted a local radio talk show.

She and her children moved to Texas, where her father lived. In 2001, she and the children moved to Alaska, remembering how much she had loved it.

Mrs. Penttila Wu was involved in many community groups and causes. She served on the board of directors at her church, the Cottonwood Health Centers and the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. She also worked with Bridges Inc. in developing a program in which area churches would temporarily house and assist homeless people. She also passed the state and national exams to become and EMT technician.

She met and fell love with her new husband, Dr. Xiondi Wu, of China.

“Heidi’s first love was the love of reading. She always had her nose in a book while growing up and read on a variety of subjects. She always had a thirst for knowledge. She also had a passion for the written word. She hosted an Internet Web site 40-60 plus friends group and contributed to many other sites, including Ole Hippies with Attitude,” her mother said.

“The thrill of a new adventure always sparked her to want to discover and learn of other cultures, she then temporarily moved to China to assist her husband. She wrote about her wondrous and many, humorous encounters of everyday life in China. She was also in the process of writing a novel when she passed away. She will be remembered and loved by everyone who knew her,” her family said.

Mrs. Penttila Wu was preceded in death by her father, William Penttila; and paternal grandfather, Rayno Penttila.

She is survived by her husband of China; mother, Kay Hartman of Oroville, Calif.; maternal grandmother, Marie Dale of California; paternal grandmother, Fannie Penttila of Arizona; brothers, Ray Penttila of Colorado and Paul Jennings and his wife, Michelle, of Soldotna; children, Ravin Penttila of Dallas, Will Penttila of Houston and Rhyme, Aidan, Liberty and Shiloh Penttila of Soldotna; great aunt, Maxine Rouse and aunt Judy Rushton, both of California; former sister-in-law, Cindy Jennings, nephews, Micah and Silas Jennings and great niece, Elora Jennings, all of Soldotna; and many cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial donations be made to an account in her name at First National Bank to assist her children.